Lola & Giuseppe’s Trattoria

Lola and Guisseppi can be heard from the kitchen into the dining room discussing the best way to prepare a meal/​dish. Now that’s dedication between the couple!
The food is great and the taste is authentic. Pricey but you know that each dish is made with passion and love, ingredients you don’t get at Olive Garden or at any Italian food chain.

Let me start off by telling you all that this place is tiny. There are about 10 4 person tables in the restaurant and if someone is at all of them then it gets hard to move around. This is the only fault of this amazing restaurant and really it makes it feel more homey but I can see people not liking that aspect.
So a friend of mine told me that no matter what the special of the day is to get it. I went with a couple of friends and made it clear that someone had to get the special. Chris got the special so that was checked off of the list and allowed the other 3 to try other things. Amanda got the lasagna, Angel got shrimp and lobster ravioli, and I got the sampler. It took about 30 minutes for the food to come out but we had some lovely garlic bread to keep us company. Once the food came out and the portions were HUGE. The lasagna was easily 2 if not 3 meals for Amanda, Chris had a plate full of linguine and mussels, my sampler was normal size portions at other restaurants, and Angel could not have been more happy with the size of the ravioli. We dug in and everyone was very pleased with the food. On the sampler I would rate the items as meatball at the bottom, then lasagna, then eggplant parm. The eggplant parm was amazing and I will definitely go back for just that in the future. I tried a little bit of everyone’s food and they were all phenomenal. If you have the time to wait for a table but want amazing food then this is your spot. The prices are not bad for what you get and extremely well made.
Last thing to mention before leaving this 5 star review is the fact that they have homemade cannoli. Get one. That is all you need to know.

Just finished our first dinner at Lola’s. We ordered the Onion soup, the chicken Parmesan, pesto mozzarella ravioli and for dessert we couldn’t decide which to choose, so we got both the bread pudding and the tiramisu. All were amazing. The bread pudding alone will bring us coming back for more. Definitely a great find in the gahanna area !

We went to Lola’s tonight for the first time. We will definitely return. There were 6 of us and we were all very happy with our dinner. We had the lasagna, the sampler, Parmesan ravioli, and chicken Marsala. They were nicely presented and delicious. Our server was friendly and took good care of us and Lola was all over the place — working the dining room. It was a great experience.

Not as good as I expected. Portions were small for price. My Salad, and Special Nightly Pasta both touted Candied Pecans. Must have been put on another plate. NOT IMPRESSED.

Amazing Italian food coming from a Chicagoan that eats Italian frequently!
Had the special fettuccini pasta with roasted red pepper with shrimp and calamari.

Bland, overpriced and fake Italian experience. When you see the hokey type choices on the menu and the flaunting of the silly «traditional» Italian terms while serving spinach and artichoke dip in the appetizers should really give any smart foodie a good idea the kind of place his is– a place for affluent people who don’t know any better to have a canned experience (and food.) The food is the most copy past Italian you can imagine, I had the gnocchi and it was flavorless with extremely salty canned tasting sauce. The biggest insult was just how small the portions were for the price and the ridiculous overly colorful descriptions they had for their dishes. Our initially reaction when seeing these things was a red flag that this place was going to be mediocre and we should have followed our instinct to leave. Only bring people here who are generic and easily impressed.
Also the bathrooms are basically in the kitchen, seems kind of unsanitary?

ENVIRONMENT: This place is small, so be sure to allow for some waiting time. It seems like you’re eating in someone’s house, which I appreciate in comparison on other restaurants where you seem like you’re at an assembly line. It was pleasant inside. They also have a patio that they use on some nights.
STAFF: Shannon was very friendly and helpful. She seemed in charge and did a nice job of helping guests relax about waiting for a table.
FOOD: We had the bruschetta and it was tasty and crispy. I had a Caesar salad, which came with a nice dressing. My wife got the spaghetti and meatballs and I got the chicken parmigiana. We both absolutely enjoyed our meals. It was easily the best chicken parmigiana I’ve ever had. And all for much less money than we would have spent if we had gone to a generic Italian restaurant like Olive Garden.

The best Italian I’ve had so far in my entire life. I’m a columbus born and raised and someone from Toledo recommended Lola’s to me. So this place is widely love while still being incredibly hole-​in-​the-​wall.
Small place, small seating with a slightly rotating menu of big deliciousness. I had one of the daily specials of cheese tortellini with a red pepper and garlic sauce (thin sliced onions & red peppers, zucchini and chicken). Top notch.
Lastly, the tiramisu. Get there close to 5pm when you can because this ethereal dessert goes fast. Lola’s tiramisu has the texture I’ve only ever dreamed of eating and the taste to match.

We came here for a late dinner. The artichoke dip, baked rigatoni, and spaghetti and meatballs were really good. Even got a surprise cube of Parmesan cheese inside the meatballs which was divine!
Nice family atmosphere! Took off a star because I saw three servers do a major eye roll when we came in at 9pm when they close at 10.

Found this little treasure on Unilocal!during a trip to Columbus for a soccer tournament. Simple, authentic flavors. Staff is excellent. Prices are value-​based. You will fall in love with Lola and Giuseppe, who make their rounds throughout the night. Highly recommend.

Just went to Lola and Guiseppi’s tonight and I promised Lola I would write a review so I am… what a great atmosphere and Lola is a gem! She runs around the restaurant making sure everyone is happy and eating and getting to know people. I started with the Lola salad (side version which was PLENTY!), honestly one of the top two salads I’ve ever eaten in my life. Caramelized pears, Gorgonzola, fresh greens… outstanding!!! For dinner I had the breadcrumb and cheese encrusted trout with a side of lobster risotto (CHUNKS of lobster!) and sautéed peas. Again, outstanding. My wife and daughter both had the chicken parmigiana which they thoroughly enjoyed and my son had the shrimp and lobster ravioli which he LOVED! Make this a place for dinner in Columbus (5 min from the airport), you won’t be disappointed, promise! I’m only lamenting that we didn’t have time to stay for dessert… next time.

Very friendly staff, excellent authentic Italian dishes. Everything was absolutely amazing! Highly recommend.

This is our single favorite date night restaurant! Lola is amazing, she knows all the regulars by name — and cooks the most amazing desserts!

My heart beats for you, Lola & Giuseppe’s!
Small, intimate space. Bright wonderful hues on the walls and around. Local art and murals, too.
Great lighting (I’m not too big a fan of eating in darker settings). The kitchen is open, meaning customers can see the dishes being prepared while walking back to the restroom. Shannon, my server, was personal and caring/​attentive from afar. Checked in at all the right times. I never felt hounded.
I started with Giuseppe’s Salad, you know, to get the juices flowing. Fresh lettuce, red pepper chunks, tomato, cheese tortellini and provolone cheese. Topped with their homemade Spicy Creamy Basil and Olive Oil dressing.
I went with Giuseppe’s Gnocchi following the fresh salad. Their house-​made Alfredo sauce is thick and creamy. Full of flavor, but didn’t overshadow the homemade gnocchi. Of course the sautéed red peppers and onion only added to the dish. The slices of sausage were savory. The homemade gnocchi balls were al dente. I was basically in Italian Heaven.
I did cave and try their Tiramisu dessert. Not for me. Their’s is not as much sweet as it’s loaded with espresso flavor. I’m not a coffee fan, so I passed on eating it. In due time I look forward to trying their Bread Pudding — it’s like a fluffy cloud of custard — the sunshine doth call!
I happened to notice a fellow patron’s lasagna as it was brought out, steam and scents blanketing the room. It was enormous. No, seriously. A small country could feed off this dish. Seeing this, I’m definitely coming back!

What a great find. Small, intimate restaurant with 5 star quality food. All items cooked to order and some amazing dishes. Menu is just big enough to satisfy everyone but small enough to not be confusing. The Onion Soup was unlike anything else I have ever had. Portions are large, service is fabulous and mingling of patrons is a warm touch. My NEW favorite restaurant in Columbus. If you are looking for a quick, boring dinner… go to The Olive Garden. If you are like me… dinners are meant to be an event. This place is the place for authentic italian cuisine at its best. Feels like you are eating at home in your own dining room with friends and family… I’m italian and that’s a way of life. I guarantee you will love this place.

This place! All I can say is «wow» and «real» we went to this place not knowing what to except and can I say I can’t wait to go again! Lola gurl I love you. I can’t wait to sit in your kitchen and just talk again while you have a full house!, but everyone has been taken care of. If you want real Italian and everything made from scratch including the desserts, this is the place to be. #1 in columbus Ohio. O don’t forget to try their amazing (Sicilian Onion Soup)

This is the most authentic, warm, and inviting Italian restaurant in the greater Columbus area. Lola is the star of the show, working as main hostess and perusing the dining room floor.
No reservations on the weekend. Always a wait at dinner time, but it’s typically soon enough to be seated.

The food is definitely old school Italian and delicious. This small hole in the wall place has charm and servers are friendly. I ordered the Giuseppe’s sampler which consists of a slice of lasagna, egg plant Palm, and spaghetti and meatballs. Plenty of food and could feed two easy. Having been to the best in Boston and NY, this place rates right up there. If you are in the Columbus OH area definitely worth a visit.

I never write reviews but felt obligated after eating here. We visited while traveling for work, the Restrraunt Is about 5 minutes from the PortColumbus Ohio airport and hotels.
I ordered the seafood fettuccini and for an appetizer we had the sampler. The spinach fettuccini noodles were home made and perfectly cooked al dente. I’m not kidding when I say it was the best Italian dinner I’ve ever had. Highly recommend the food and the prices were very reasonable.
We now stop here for a great dinner every time we come through.
EXCELLENT!

This place is just awesome in just about every way. The food, the décor, the service. Everything was just great for us when I took my girlfriend here for her birthday. They only take call aheads on the weekends (and only sometimes), but luckily, on a Thursday night it wasn’t too busy, and we were able to get seated right away. Like everyone’s said, this place probably only has 10 – 15 tables, so you may want to give them a call just to see if there’s a wait. Our server was really nice and very knowledgeable about the entire menu.
It’s easy to over order here we came to find out. You already get complimentary gralic bread, so keep that in mind. We split the appetizer ‘snack’ platter which was anything but a snack and comes with two meatballs, the fritto, two big pieces of bruschetta and some salami, mortadella and cheese. The meatballs are so so good and so is the sauce that comes with them. The fritto was the favorite here. It’s a bunch of cheese mixed with folded up cook spaghetti and fried, and it’s amazing! I’m not sure how traditional this dish is, but it was damn delicious but also extremely filling, so remember that if you decided to go for the full size fritto.
For my dinner, I really couldn’t decide on anything, so I got the Giuseppe’s Sampler. Our server said it’s one of the most popular dishes, because people were having the same issue as me in making a decision, so they put their three most popular dishes on one plate: Eggplant parm, lasagna, and spaghetti and meatballs. The eggplant parm was tasty, but the lasagna was so cheesy and rich that I’d easily just order that the next time. My girlfriend agreed that it was the best thing she’d eaten that night.
I could barely move by the end, but I did get a cannoli to go. Lola makes her own filling, and as someone who gets a cannoli any time I see, hear, or read about one, it was one of the better cannoli’s I’ve had in Columbus.
Forget about the super chic and fancy Italian restaurants in Columbus, because Lola and Giuseppe’s has some of the best homecooked Italian I’ve had in the city at a much more affordable price. The small space is great for a date, and you can tell how much they really care about the food they’re preparing. We’ll definitely be back again.

Absolutely excellent! It feels like home from the minute you walk in the door thanks to the wonderful service and, of course, being greeted by Lola herself! My husband and I came here for a date night recently and will most definitely be back.
The restaurant is small, but we arrived early and had no problem getting a seat for 2. Gradually we noticed it getting more crowded as we were there, but we would wait for this place.
The food is excellent. Homemade, rustic Italian food that you can just feel was made with some love. I highly recommend the Pasta Fritto as an appetizer, so delicious! Don’t come here if you are on a «diet» for sure!
Also we heard upon coming here that you can’t leave without trying one of Lola’s homemade desserts. We ate a bit too much to leave room but ended up taking some cannolis to go and were SO glad we did. They were amazing!
Definitely come here if you want authentic Italian food, great service and to really feel like part of the family!

I only get the taste for Italian food once or twice a year and usually whenever I do, I make it myself. I believe that fresh ingredients and fresh herbs and spices are the key to almost any dish but, especially great Italian. After reading everyone’s reviews on this restaurant, I was very excited to try them. As much as it pains me to say this, I was disappointed. Now the décor of the place is very nice, it’s a very homey setting and you really do get the feeling that you’re visiting someone’s home. But that can only carry a restaurant so far. In my opinion, the food there is entirely overpriced. Not so overpriced that you would think not to order it but it just causes you to give pause because you know that you’ve received the same dishes at other establishments for cheaper. I ordered Giuseppe salad (which was seven dollars!) which was basically a side salad with some pasta thrown in and the spaghetti and meatballs. Now the serving size wasn’t bad, I must admit. And I had read other previous reviews were everyone raved about the sauce. As far as the sauce is concerned, I’ve actually had better at Monjuni’s. And the key to almost any Italian restaurant is the quality of the pasta. It’s universally known and excepted that pasta needs to be cooked «Al dente» Unfortunately, I found that the other reviews that I read were correct, the pasta was overcooked. The sauce had ENTIRELY too much Parmesan and the item that I enjoyed the most on the entire meal was the endless garlic bread. Now I’m not one to visit a place one time and condemn them from that point on. I’ll probably give this place another shot later on in the future. But as far as a first impression goes, I wasn’t impressed. I should’ve gone with my first mind and just gone to Carraba’s.

Food is amazing… especially the Sicilian Onion soup. The restaurant is a bit on the small /​intimate side but the food and the owners themselves make up for it in spades. I highly recommend.

AMAZING Italian food. The best Cesar salad I’ve ever had. The salmon, lasagna, spaghetti and meatball, eggplant parm are so delicious. We had a cannoli, tiramisu and lemoncello for desert and they beat out and other Italian food I’ve ever had. It was a busy Saturday night and the owner, Lola, was helping out by seating people which I thought was really cool. Highly recommend trying this place out. It’s one of our new faves.

An absolute gem of dinning joy. They’ve created a warm inviting eatery with wonderful food and exceptional staff. The restaurant is small and cozy but not cramped. The staff are surprisingly friendly. I’ve been three times thus far and it appears everyone knows me by name. I walk in to resounding calls of, «Hi Chris.» I don’t know how Lola has pulled it off but creating such friendliness and care in a staff is no small feat. And the food. .. Delicious. The onion soup is a WOW! and the Meatballs rival the best I’ve had anywhere. I expect to be back — many times.

This is a cozy «mom & pop» place. There is limited seating and reservations are not accpted. There is call ahead seating (you call them just before you drive over) and carry out. The waitstaff and Lola make you feel at home and are attentive. When regulars walk in, Lola welcomes them in like family (unfortunately, I don’t eat here frequently enough to be a regular). I usually like to buy a container or two of their pasta sauce after a visit to give away to my bf’s father who claims it’s as delicious as his Italian grandmother’s recipe. I could definitely eat it plain.
Another highlight to my dinners here is their Limoncello. It is housemade, rumour says it’s made with Everclear, and it’s sweet and creamy. It’s incredibly delicious, but dangerous to drink more than one or two. It’s really potent!

We went here for a Saturday evening dinner. As other reviewers have said you really can’t have a private meal here, you sort of dine with everyone. Which can be fun if you’re in the mood for that.
The food was good. We were offered fresh pepper after we had finished our salads. I would have requested it before but our waitress seemed very busy and I didn’t see her until I after I finished.
I enjoyed the homemade pasta, the sauce was good. I ordered Giuseppe’s sampler. My rigatoni was cold, the rest of the plate was warm. The meatball was my favorite as it was spiced perfectly.
When we go got our meal the waitress had split the bottle of wine one couple ordered three ways. She also split the appetizer one person ordered three ways on all the bills.
I think this is a good restaurant, I would probably go again. But I would have liked to have been asked about how to split the bill.

My family is all from Calabria Italy. Many restaurants offer Northern or Roman style cooking but L and G’s offers real southern Italian cooking. The pasta and the eggplant filled my memory as this was the first time I had eaten this authentic tasting pasta in the 27 years since my Father has been gone. Every Sunday we sat as a family eating pasta, cheese plates and salad. I only wish I lived near here. They would see my once a week if not more. Give your taste buds a taste of Italy and visit this lovey Trattoria.
B. Durante

Met two friends for dinner and found my dining experience disappointing. My friends beat me to the restaurant and were already seated in a tiny room that fit only three tables. It was pretty hot out, maybe 88 and humid, and I noticed that the air conditioning was not working well or they did not have any. A fan was blowing warm air into my area.
After perusing the menu I decided to order the Sicilian onion soup. It had some rave accolades so I gave in. It arrived and looked ok, but upon tasting it, my friend and I noticed that it was very oily. More oil than broth, and had a sweet taste. Not sure what exactly was going on here, but I ate it.
Complimentary garlic bread came out. Really average at best. Small pieces of flattened bread. I dunno.
The wine selection is not very large and I ended up ordering a glass of merlot. There was no Shiraz. Also, many of the wines did not identify themselves on the menu as Merlot, Cabernet, etc.
For my main dish I ordered the Giuseppe’s Sampler. Meatball over pasta, lasagna, and eggplant for $ 18. We waited and waited for the food to arrive. wasn’t timing it, but I know it was a long time when I think the owner came out and asked us how our meal was. Of course our answer was, «we haven’t gotten our food yet.»
After a long wait my dish finally arrived. Food presentation was good, but taste was disappointing. Pasta was overcooked as pasta and in the lasagna. No chance for al dente here. Didn’t taste terrible, just way overcooked pasta.
It appears that a lot of people truly love the food here, but for me, disappointed.

Today was another example of how Italian cuisine is supposed to be. I had the veal marsala with risotto and cauliflower and everything was done perfectly. I highly recommend this dish if you want old school old world cuisine done right. I am already planning what I am going to have next time I am here.

Lola’s never fails to be a joy. The atmosphere warm and welcoming, with food to delight taste buds as well as the soul.
Our party sampled the Stuffed shells, spaghetti and meatballs along with fettucini Alfredo. Appetizers of of the spinach artichoke dip and the fritta.
Everything was rich and flavorful. Sauces were bright with the sweetness of the tomatoes being notable. The appetizers especially the spinach artichoke dip deserve praise.
We finished with the carrot cake and the limoncello cheesecake. Both were delicious, but the cheesecake, a water bath style cheese cake making it extra creamy, was sublime. Each creamy bite a little taste of heaven.
Best Italian in the city!

Was in town for a wedding and searched Unilocal for dining options. We were not disappointed. It’s a very small place so when a group of six of us showed up it was a pretty big deal to accommodate us. They were accommodating and the service stayed outstanding throughout our entire meal.
Can’t say the meals were outstanding, but they were very good. The desserts, however, were delicious. The tiramisu and the bread pudding were to die for. If you typically don’t eat bread pudding, you’ll still love theirs. It has the consistency of flan and melts in your mouth.
Don’t know when we’ll be passing through Columbus again, but will definitely be keeping Lola & Giuseppe’s in mind when we do.

On business in Columbus and wanted someplace close by to have Italian with some co-​workers. Lola & Giuseppe’s fit the bill, with the bonus of being a Rewards Network affiliate restaurant. It is small, only about 35 seats. Very cozy. They do not accept reservations. We got there early at about 5:30 pm and didn’t have an issue finding a table. They don’t have a big menu, but we got some wine & the eggplant appetizer while we figured out our entrees. That and the complimentary toasted garlic bread took the edge off of our hunger while we waited for our dinners. I got the chicken parmiagiana. It was excellent — hot, gorgeous looking, tasty, and just the right size. I was stuffed, and had a couple of pieces of chicken to take as leftovers. Noticed they had homemade limonicello, so ordered a glass as an apéritif and had the limonicello gelato. What a great end to the meal! The bill wasn’t cheap, but fair for the quality of food — a worthwhile indulgence. A terrific meal, and one to recommend and repeat whenever I’m in the area!

Good family italian restaurant — cozy place and reasonable price.
A little cold whenever the door is open during winter.
If you love salty food, you will like this place. I’m more of a plain person so the sauce is a little salty for me.
Overall great place — environment.

This place has wonderful Italian cuisine. They have salads, soups, anti pastas, lasagna, meatballs, ravioli, seafood dishes, and more. I wasn’t expecting a decent sized menu from a place that only seats 35 or so (that is a guess).
For a start, I got the wedding soup that could’ve used a bit of black pepper.
There are two special entrees that are only served on Friday and Saturday. I would’ve got the one if it was Friday, but I settled on my initial choice of the chicken marsala. The waitress recommended it without hesitation, as well. It was a wonderful choice, the aroma as she laid it down assured me I made the right decision. The vegetable of the day was green beans, it went wonderfully with creamy risotto.
I do wish they had a bigger red wine selection, as they could benefit from a Cabernet or two. I will return again.